Mount Eliza man forced to chase thieves due to police pursuit policy

A Mount Eliza man claims he was forced to chase thieves who stole his BMW convertible because police officers could not pursue it themselves.

9NEWS understands police spotted a stolen Ford 4WD several times before it was used to ram a Hog’s Breath Cafe.

The teenage occupants of the car were caught on CCTV charging inside, jumping the bar before ransacking the counter, before stealing bottles of liqueur and the tip jar.

Within seconds the teens had fled, continuing their crime spree.

Police believe the teenagers also stole a BMW belonging to a Mount Eliza man who wishes only to be known as “Mark”.

The teenagers allegedly used both the BMW and the Ford to commit ram raids in Langwarrin as well as the Hog’s Breath Cafe burglary.

“(They) just walked through our house, grabbed keys and wallet off the bench,” Mark said.

Mark said he woke up to the noise and chased the thieves while calling triple zero.

“(The operator) said ‘you need to stop pursuing, you need to leave it up to the police, the police are following them’ and I said ‘well they’re not because I’ve just passed the police standing still’,” he said.

Mark gave chase, following his BMW along the Nepean Highway, where he claims it passed a second police car that also remained stationary.

Mark said three police cars remained at the Seaford Road intersection.

As well as thousands of dollars’ worth of damage caused to local businesses, police allege the thieves crashed into a taxi on Towerhill Road in Frankston around 30 minutes after one of the ram raids.

Mark’s convertible was found dumped in Cranbourne North and four boys face charges, including a 12-year-old from Frankston.

Victoria Police said it “made a risk assessment based on the earlier behaviour of the offenders and decided that the situation was too dangerous to justify a pursuit”.

Mark told 9NEWS he believes the pursuit policy is “a disgrace”.

“What are (police) good for now? Booking you for a seatbelt,” he said.